“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”― Dalai Lama –

There is never a time when we are not challenged to be true, to be authentic when we are interacting with other people. As Spiritual people, that is acknowledging that we are spirits in a human body, here to learn all we can before evolving into a new and greater beings and travelling to new and greater places, we have to learn to live our truth.

It sounds challenging. It sounds frightening. It may sound as though it is too much to ask of you. Yet it is not. All it is asking of you is that the true essence of your being is allowed to shine. If your inner essence, that Spiritual glow that exists inside each and every one of us, is allowed to shine its light into the world, both you and the world around you become a magical place to be.

Never forget, that when you enter this life, you are a powerful Spiritual being. We have chosen to come here and learn in this environment because it allows us so many lessons in life. Some we may wish we had avoided. Yet strange as it may seem we have chosen these lessons to learn. Learning these lessons, those hard and emotional lessons, teaches us one of the most important things we can learn here, compassion.

Source unknown

We learn compassion and forgiveness for our humanness. There is no one among us who is perfect. It may be something some of us strive for, yet is it the most difficult thing to achieve because we are human. We make mistakes. We may make the same mistake over and over again. The best we can ask of ourselves and others is that they have the compassion to see, we are trying to strive for the best we can be, our highest good and for the good of all. In the end we can only ask of ourselves that we too strive to be the best we can be, that all we do is for the highest good, both for ourselves and for others.

If we can learn this that compassion comes from a heart filled with love, understanding and acceptance, then it is an easy step to find forgiveness for the apparent failings of others. It is so easy to place our expectations on others. When we do this we forget that this is our journey and not theirs, and we must show true forgiveness to ourselves and others.

Why forgive ourselves? If we cannot find it in our heart to forgive ourselves for what we do, for what we expect of others, how can we ever expect forgiveness from them? More importantly, how can we expect to be able to forgive ourselves? We are human also. A spirit in a human body, learning the same as everyone else, just at different stages and places in the arena of life.

For, truthfully, if we cannot forgive ourselves for our failing we harbour a judgement that is impossible to meet. We make ourselves feel unworthy because we cannot extend the forgiveness we show others, to ourselves. When we learn to show the compassion and forgiveness to ourselves that we readily show to others, than we can grow far beyond that which we at first expected. We can make this life in a human form, a magical experience indeed.

This is the truth inside you which is often carefully hidden. Why – because once we have mastered this apparently simply understanding, we can show the love which is inherently within us. We can accept the differences between people and love their uniqueness. We are able to forgive their human failings because we know there are pure Spirit. A glorious energy form that has to conform to a rigid human body. It has to learn new ways of being and doing and in learning to show compassion and forgiveness towards them, we can recognise the same beauty within ourselves.

We are a beautiful Spirit. Energy is what we are and it is beautiful and pure. Forgiveness and compassion, love for all that is, is a part of what we are.

Image fromwhat-we-are-today. source unknown

We are part of the greater beauty of the world around us. The energy of the majestic trees, the beautiful birds who choose to live there, all the creatures of the sky and land. Their energy shines brightly into the world making a rainbow colour of beautiful life. Compassion and forgiveness for our human frailties beings a glitter and shine to the beauty which surrounds us. Let the truth that lies within see the beauty which surrounds us. Let us see each day, the glory we are a part of, and release the burden of achieving, for being a beautiful Spirit shining our light into the world, making the world a more beautiful place in which to live.

Let the Truth inside you, be the Truth that we can all share. Let the world glow with the beauty of our spiritual energy. We are all energetic beings and the brightly glowing existence we share can make the world a wondrous place. Shine your own light into the world and make the rainbow a glorious reality.

“The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.”
― C. JoyBell C.

Life is not always peaches and cream, or so I’ve found. Things happen, for which you are totally unprepared, and in the process you can feel exposed, vulnerable and disenfranchised.

In my opinion, there is nothing more undermining than to be “called to account” for something which was alleged to happen, and for which you are not given the right to respond. It is especially onerous, in my opinion, if this tramples an area where you may be vulnerable, and even more so if the person who is mentoring that group drops the ball.

We go through life learning as we stumble along. We make friends, meet partners, have families, make and lose workmates, the death of family and friends, the list goes on. Along the way there is the possibility we may ‘suffer’ what has been termed “Wounding’s”.

To clarify, in this instance, a wounding is a life event which has traumatised you in some way. It’s not very difficult to find, a divorce, death of family or friend, abusive relationship etc.

Growth is often painful

Some of us bounce back with ease. Some however, do not and hold this wounding inside, so tightly, it cannot find a way out. We cannot let it go, cannot grieve over the situation, because we have never felt safe enough to talk about the ‘incident’. If we finally feel we are in a place, safe enough for us to ‘share’ our story, we can be taken unawares by thoughtless judgement. This can be especially so, if both persons shared their ‘story’…

Long ago I recall being told that, it was of paramount importance to hear both sides of a story, before making a decision, as to what needed to be done in response. I have never forgotten the advice. I also believe that anyone who decides to ‘complain’ about another person, they should be willing to confront that person with their complaint. This seems to cause many complaints to be retracted.

I too, have had a “Great Wounding” which left me so traumatised I could not talk about it for many years. To this day I shy away from discussing it. However, I was recently in a place where a select group was gathered. Each person I interacted with in the first couple of days seemed to have their own story behind them, as we all do. After listening to someone discuss their situation I, unfortunately, shared some of my own “Wounding.”

The art of listening.

I was more than dumbfounded, when, as we made our way back into the meeting room I was taken to one side and informed I had “Inappropriately Shared” something. “People had complained”. I was temporarily unable to think, or speak as shock set in. To say I felt that I should leave and return home – more than crossed my mind. “Who, I wondered”. “What could I have said which was ‘Inappropriate’?” Then, No, why should I be forced away?

I remained, though it did mar my time there. To feel that every word, act or nuance, needed to be weighed and measured, made for an uncomfortable situation. I had only worked with a couple of people at that point, and the opportunity to speak with people only in a group situation apart from that, so the list of people who could have complained was small.

Is it worth remembering? Only the lessons. The lessons of forgiveness and compassion.

It is much sweeter to forgive than condemn

“Forgive but do not forget, or you will be hurt again. Forgiving changes the perspectives. Forgetting loses the lesson.”
― Paulo Coelho

The incident, onerous enough by itself has embedded itself into the original “Wounding”. Being singled out later, in group, as an example of onewho had come there with a “Great Wounding” in their past, did not help. I will continue, alone, to try to reconcile this “Wounding” from my past, finding compassion for those who behaved in this way. There will never be another discussion about it.

As for what happened in a group of my peers:

I forgive the pettiness of the person who felt the need to complain, even though they lacked the moral fibre to speak directly to me…. despite sharing their own story, and, If I was talking with them, and they preferred not to.

I forgive being spoken to in the manner and place I was. Leadership dictates such a discussion be private, or so I have been taught.

I forgive being used as an object lesson for the group…. Without giving permission to discuss my personal affairs before anyone else, and when there were other people there, who were also said to have shared their “Great Wounding’s”. I am still confused by exactly what constituted “Inappropriately sharing”, but the time to talk about that has passed.

The Secret of Life?

Lessons in Life arrive when we least expect them and often in ways we wish were different. I may not have liked this lesson, or lessons, but I can and will learn from them I already have learned from them.

I trust that if I am the person someone approaches with a “Great Wounding” and a need to share, that I have the grace and compassion to listen with as much understanding as possible.

I hope that I can recognise the privilege shown to me, that they feel safe enough to discuss something which may have devastated their life.

Finally, I pray, that if I ever have a situation in which I am uncomfortable or do not wish to be a part of, that I have the moral fibre to speak to that person myself. Showing them the dignity and respect they deserve and not behaving like a school child tattling on another.

Forgiveness, the lesson of life.

“Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won’t either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up.”
― Louise Erdrich, The Painted Drum

“It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and others will come. “Dalai Lama

image courtesy of society6.com

I’ve come to realize that peace, tranquility and honoring your own place is truly and completely personal. It isn’t something you can point to and say, “Yes, this is it”. It really is a combination of thoughts, feelings and place or places. I found some wonderful places I’ve been to where the quietude of the moment has made my heart swell, and my mind to find that moment of stillness where the world washes away and I find I can really breath again. It is a beautiful feeling and in the hurly burly of modern society is something which we have to actively seek out if we wish to find it.

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I expected this week to be a bit of a challenge. Why? In essence because that’s how I made it, which, in retrospect was quiet silly. I’ve known for a long time that life has its ups and downs, somewhat like riding a roller coaster – if you like that sort of thing. Personally, the roller coaster is a little too much for me. At the top of the climb my heart is in my mouth, my tummy still sitting at the ground level and I’m questioning the ultimate wisdom of sitting where I am. Then the fun begins and we hurtle down towards the ground and my head is screaming from the clouds, my tummy dropping like a stone even further into the ground after being dragged from where I left it. Sounds like fun doesn’t it?

image courtesy of suite101.com

So this week has allowed me to gain a little wisdom into what I want my roller coaster to be like. My good friend and mentor NC, has shown me, as I really already knew, that life, my life, has its own “sinus rhythm”, and we cannot change that, it’s how I, at least operate. It doesn’t have to be high adrenalin. I simply need to understand that this is how it is and – the big impact – manage it!

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So yesterday, after gaining my refresher upload on who, what and why I’m here and how to go about it in the best way possible for me, I decided that it was time to “smell the roses” a little. However, I’ll backtrack a couple of hours because we wanted to be in “the right space” before I spoke with Nicole. I have heard so much about Queenie’s at Nundah that I was simply so eager to get there and try out the ambiance. I’ve only recently been introduced to the delicious aroma and taste of French Earl Grey Tea and was looking forward to having some there, plus a small snack – my tummy knows the time!

image courtesy of Queenie’s Traditional Tea House

The tea was superb, and the sandwich trio was divine. Ray had a plain tea and sandwiches but enjoyed it just as much as I enjoyed mine. We eyed the delicacies as they were paraded past us and debated indulging, but my appointment called and we promised ourselves the full “High Tea” experience, sometime very soon! I am so grateful we’ve been introduced to this gem, if only we had one on the Gold Coast too!

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Afterwards, feeling as though I need to be grounded again, we decided we would follow-up on another very well recommended haunt in the area, Chouquette at New farm.

image courtesy of Chouquette, New Farm

image courtesy of thisisvincispeaking.wordpress.com

image courtesy of yeeshin.wordpress.com

Yes, we indulged ourselves and it was DELICIOUS! I must go back earlier in the day when there is much, much more to choose from, although it took long enough to settle on these two delicacies. Yummy! The drive home was delightful, since I was allowed to semi snooze most of the way. My husband is such a wonderful chauffeur. Love you darling!

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Sounds so simple, and it is, except I forgot about it, yet again today! I’m not immune to life’s ups and downs, nor am I perfect in putting into practice what I know and should do without thinking. I’m a spiritual being living in a human body and trying to learn what I’ve come here for. I spent much of the wee small hours thinking over what had been an upset over something so minor it simply should have paled into insignificance after our wonderful day in Brisbane. Instead I let it get me all roiled up and needed to put everything back into perspective. I forgot that on my own personal roller coaster I had climbed the peak and come rushing down into the valley and derailed! I needed time to regroup before climbing back out again.

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Back on track, life has smoothed out again and I feel good. Not perfect, but I’m learning to forgive my impulsiveness and accept I am human. Life rolls on and I’m determined I’m going get back on that ride and finish the darned thing!

image courtesy of readysethappy.blogspot.com

Life is good. I am loved and accepted for the person I am and that’s all I can ask for. It’s a lot more than most are offered so I am grateful and truly blessed. I wish for you a beautiful day, every day.

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“For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.” – Judy Garland